Alright so I’ve played a fair share of games on my phone and tablet that utilize on-screen directional pads, on-screen control sticks and even the phone’s hardware keyboard to control games but nothing seems to fit right. I’ve even mapped a Wiimote to the tablet and carried the controller around for a more console-like effect when I game but even that got old.

So how would you fix mobile gaming’s control scheme so that it worked as well its console brethren? Would you incorporate a controller into the device, like ASUS PadPhone’s stylus? Or do you think mobile game controls already work fine as they are now?

ralphwiggum1

Whaaaat? A third post about mobile controls?

Wiimote is a horrible game controller as it only has like 2 usuable buttons. A PS3 or Xbox 360 type controller (such as as the OnLive controller) are the preferred control methods for console-type games.

Aaron_301

I agree with ralphwiggum1, I actually used a Sony Ericsson Xperia Play for a while and it was by far the best gaming experience I’ve had for mobile gaming in a long time.

NamelessTed

I wouldn’t do anything to change the controls. I would just want more developers to make games that understand the limitations of the system that they are working on and design their games accordingly.

Asking how to fix the controls of a tablet is like asking how you should fix the controls of a console by trying to make a keyboard and mouse work on it. Plenty of companies have tried doing this and it flat out fails miserably.

Designers design their games to be played on a controller, not something else. If you want a controller, go play a game on a console.

Yonas

Bluetooth controller,not portable but the best solution i could see out there even though its not compatible with all the games out there.

http://facebook.com/jestertx2001 Jesse Moreno

Yeah I’d say the same but I’m just wondering if there is a better way to incorporate the controller with the actual phone or tablet. There’s gotta be some way to do that. (Again, referencing the Xperia Play or the ASUS PadPhone’s Stylus again.)

Jiltedae

The lack of a tactile response will always hinder on screen controls to a certain degree. Some games get it better than others, but no on screen control scheme can come close to a good game controller or keyboard/mouse combo for a serious game.

That being said, I’m very happy with the controls for the available casual puzzle games. Games like World of Goo feel at home and natural on large touch screens.

Greegoor

Since I’m currently working on a game which is at some point also published on Android, the question of how to control the character is a really tough one on the platform imo.

On the one hand, implementing support for certrain controllers may seem like a good idea, but on the other hand that means one has to decimate ones own customer base.

http://facebook.com/jestertx2001 Jesse Moreno

You can’t just offer both as an option (on-screen controls and controller support), rather than one or the other?